Stand-off charge system including an attachment bracket and related methods

Abstract

Exemplary apparatus, systems, and methods to provide an ability to quickly and securely hand emplace stand-off demolition charges to various surfaces or structures including surfaces including any flat surface. An aspect of the embodiment of the invention is a lightweight attachment bracket that will hold charges at distances up to (e.g., ten inches) away from a vertical target. The bracket is collapsible, therefore provides a user adjustable stand-off, which is necessary for some applications. Attachment to ferrous material can be instant through a set of rare earth metals imbedded in the base of the bracket. A skirt of high strength textile material provides attachment to other surfaces via integrated hooks and rings. Alternative embodiments of the invention could include an electromagnetic system provided to couple the bracket with a battery in order to provide a limited amount of power to operate the system.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An adjustable stand-off charge system including a mounting or attachment bracket apparatus comprising:
 a first frame assembly comprising a first plate or frame section formed with a first aperture as well as a first, second, third, and fourth elongated frame sections, said first, second, third, and fourth elongated frame sections each comprising a first and second opposing end, said first ends of said first through fourth elongated frame sections are perpendicularly coupled or attached with one side of said first plate section at spaced apart sections of said first plate around said first aperture; 
 a second frame assembly comprising a second plate or frame section formed with a second aperture as well as a fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth elongated frame sections, said fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth elongated frame sections each comprising a third and fourth opposing end, said third ends of said fifth through eight elongated frame sections are perpendicularly coupled or attached with one side of said second plate section at spaced apart sections of said second plate around said second aperture; 
 a locking structure disposed in, formed into, or positioned with respect to said first frame assembly configured to selectively lock said first frame assembly with respect to motion or movement by said second frame assembly; 
 a plurality of first coupling structures formed into or attached with said first or second plate section disposed around either said first or second aperture, wherein said plurality of first coupling structures are configured to provide a coupling or attaching force sufficient to prevent said bracket with a stand-off charge coupled to said bracket from moving relative to a mounting surface including a target surface caused by a first force, wherein said first force comprises a gravitational force equal at least to a weight of said bracket and said stand-off charge; 
 a textile skirt comprising integrated hooks and rings coupled to either said first or second plate section, wherein said textile skirt is further configured to couple or attach with sections of said mounting surface; and 
 a plurality of second coupling structures adapted to couple with or receive insertion of said stand-off charge configured to secure said stand-off charge comprising a shaped charge, wherein said plurality of second coupling structures are positioned on said first or second frame assemblies to orient said stand-off charge to direct a blast force direction generated by said stand-off charge into a center section of either said first or second aperture; 
 wherein said first, second, third and fourth elongated frame sections are hollow and formed to slideably receive a portion of said fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth elongated frame sections. 
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a third plate formed with a third aperture, wherein said third plate is perpendicularly coupled to respective sections adjacent to opposing ends of said fifth through eighth elongated frame sections from said second plate around said third aperture. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of first coupling structures comprise rare earth magnets. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of first coupling structures comprise mechanical latches, suction structures, or mechanical engagement members configured to mechanically engage with and maintain relative position with said mounting surface. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of first coupling structures comprise adhesives. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising said stand-off charge coupled to said bracket. 
     
     
       7. A method of operating an exemplary stand-off charge system including an attachment bracket comprising:
 providing an adjustable stand-off charge mounting or attachment bracket apparatus comprising:
 a first frame assembly comprising a first plate or frame section formed with a first aperture as well as a first, second, third, and fourth elongated frame sections, said first, second, third, and fourth elongated frame sections each comprising a first and second opposing end, said first ends of said first through fourth elongated frame sections are perpendicularly coupled or attached with one side of said first plate section at spaced apart sections of said first plate around said first aperture; 
 a second frame assembly comprising a second plate or frame section formed with a second aperture as well as a fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth elongated frame sections, said fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth elongated frame sections each comprising a third and fourth opposing end, said third ends of said fifth through eight elongated frame sections are perpendicularly coupled or attached with one side of said second plate section at spaced apart sections of said second plate around said second aperture; 
 a locking structure disposed in, formed into, or positioned with respect to said first frame assembly configured to selectively lock said first frame assembly with respect to motion or movement by said second frame assembly; 
 a plurality of first coupling structures formed into or attached with said first or second plate section disposed around either said first or second aperture, wherein said plurality of first coupling structures are configured to provide a coupling or attaching force sufficient to prevent said bracket and a stand-off charge coupled to said bracket from moving relative to a mounting surface including a target surface caused by a first force, wherein said first force comprises a gravitational force equal to a weight of said bracket and said stand-off charge; 
 a textile skirt comprising integrated hooks and rings coupled to either said first or second plate section, wherein said hooks and rings are configured to couple with said mounting surface; and 
 a plurality of second coupling structures adapted to couple with or receive insertion of a stand-off charge configured to secure said stand-off charge comprising a shaped charge, wherein said plurality of second coupling structures are positioned or disposed on said first or second frame assemblies to orient said stand-off charge to direct a blast force direction generated by said stand-off charge into a center section of either said first or second aperture; 
 wherein said first, second, third and fourth elongated frame sections are hollow and formed to slideably receive a portion of said fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth elongated frame sections; 
 extending either said first or second frame assemblies from each other to a predetermined stand-off distance associated with the stand-off charge; 
 
 coupling said first or second plate or end of said bracket to said mounting surface with said plurality of first coupling structures; 
 coupling or disposing the stand-off charge at said first plate or end with a blast or shaped charge direction oriented towards the second in the second plate of the bracket; 
 detonating said shaped or stand-off charge after personnel mounting said charge have moved away from said shaped or stand-off charge. 
 
     
     
       8. A method as in  claim 7 , wherein said stand-off charge comprises a shaped charge. 
     
     
       9. A method as in  claim 8 , wherein said predetermined distance comprises a distance of a section of plasma jet formed by said shaped charge comprising an end of said plasma jet. 
     
     
       10. A method as in  claim 7 , further comprising a third plate formed with a third aperture, wherein said third plate is perpendicularly coupled to respective sections adjacent to opposing ends of said fifth through eighth elongated frame sections from said second plate around said third aperture. 
     
     
       11. A method as in  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of first coupling structures comprise rare earth magnets. 
     
     
       12. A method as in  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of first coupling structures comprise mechanical latches, suction structures, or mechanical engagement members configured to mechanically engage with and maintain relative position with said mounting surface. 
     
     
       13. A method as in  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of first coupling structures comprise adhesives. 
     
     
       14. A method associated with an exemplary stand-off charge system including an attachment bracket comprising:
 manufacturing or assembling an adjustable stand-off charge mounting or attachment bracket apparatus comprising:
 a first frame assembly comprising a first plate or frame section formed with a first aperture as well as a first, second, third, and fourth elongated frame sections, said first, second, third, and fourth elongated frame sections each comprising a first and second opposing end, said first ends of said first through fourth elongated frame sections are perpendicularly coupled or attached with one side of said first plate section at spaced apart sections of said first plate around said first aperture; 
 a second frame assembly comprising a second plate or frame section formed with a second aperture as well as a fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth elongated frame sections, said fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth elongated frame sections each comprising a third and fourth opposing end, said third ends of said fifth through eight elongated frame sections are perpendicularly coupled or attached with one side of said second plate section at spaced apart sections of said second plate around said second aperture; 
 a locking structure disposed in, formed into, or positioned with respect to said first frame assembly configured to selectively lock said first frame assembly with respect to motion or movement by said second frame assembly; 
 a plurality of first coupling structures formed into or attached with said first or second plate section disposed around either said first or second aperture, wherein said plurality of first coupling structures are configured to provide a coupling or attaching force sufficient to prevent said bracket and a stand-off charge coupled to said bracket from moving relative to a mounting surface including a target surface caused by a first force, wherein said first force comprises a gravitational force equal to a weight of said bracket and said stand-off charge; 
 a textile skirt comprising integrated hooks and rings coupled to either said first or second plate section, wherein said hooks and rings are configured to couple with said mounting surface; and 
 a plurality of second coupling structures adapted to couple with or receive insertion of a stand-off charge configured to secure said stand-off charge comprising a shaped charge, wherein said plurality of second coupling structures are positioned on said first or second frame assemblies to orient said stand-off charge to direct a blast force direction generated by said stand-off charge into a center section of either said first or second aperture; 
 wherein said first, second, third and fourth elongated frame sections are hollow and formed to slideably receive a portion of said fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth elongated frame sections. 
 
 
     
     
       15. A method as in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 identifying a location comprising said mounting surface to place the mounting or attachment bracket and said stand-off charge; 
 extending either said first or second frame assemblies from each other to said predetermined stand-off distance associated with the stand-off charge; 
 coupling said first or second plate or end of said bracket to said mounting surface with said plurality of first coupling structures; 
 coupling or disposing the stand-off charge at said first plate or end with a blast or shaped charge direction oriented towards the second in the second plate of the bracket; 
 detonating said shaped or stand-off charge after personnel mounting said charge have moved away from said shaped or stand-off charge. 
 
     
     
       16. A method as in  claim 14 , wherein said stand-off charge comprises a shaped charge. 
     
     
       17. A method as in  claim 16 , wherein said predetermined distance comprises a distance of a section of plasma jet formed by said shaped charge comprising an end of said plasma jet. 
     
     
       18. A method as in  claim 14 , further comprising a third plate formed with a third aperture, wherein said third plate is perpendicularly coupled to respective sections adjacent to opposing ends of said fifth through eighth elongated frame sections from said second plate around said third aperture. 
     
     
       19. A method as in  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of first coupling structures comprise rare earth magnets. 
     
     
       20. A method as in  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of first coupling structures comprise mechanical latches or engagement members configured to mechanically engage with and maintain relative position with said mounting surface. 
     
     
       21. A method as in  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of first coupling structures comprise adhesives.